Halp to stepen o



(No Model.) V

. 'F. 'H. CHAPMAN.

SNAP 1100K FOR REINS.

'Patented June 9, 1885.

1.7V VEJV TOR WITNESSES Attorneys N. PETERS. PhMo-LNMgmphar. Washington. D. C.

UNITED STATE rate Arena FRANK H. CHAPMAN, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE HALF TO STEPEN O. PARKER, OF SAME PLACE.

sNAP-HooKjFoR REINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,560 dated June 9, 1885.

Application filed March 30, 1895. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. CHAPMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Snap-Hooks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to snap-hooks, and is specially designed for use in holding the check line or rein to its hook, so as to prevent the releasing of the rein by the motion of the horses head.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which maybe oper-- ated with ease and facility in releasing or attaching it in position, which is adjustable to any size or shape of check-hook, which will not Wear out or become worthless in such a short period of time as the usual form of loops employed on harness, and which may be shaped and finished so as to be ornamental to the harness rather than otherwise.

With these ends in view the said invention consists in certain details of construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View showing a portion of the check-hook and the check-rein, with my improved snap-hook applied in position to hold the parts together. Fig. 2 is a plan View. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section.

Like letters are used to indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the hollow cylindrical casing or body of the hook, having at one end an oblong loop, 13, and at the opposite end a curved frame, (3, these parts being preferably formed integral with each other, as shown.

D designates a cylindricalshaped stem or shank having one of its ends working through the central opening of the casing or body A, and its other end carrying a semi-elliptical shaped block or piece, E, which is bifurcated or slitted horizontally to receive a corresponding projection, a, on one of the edges of the cushion F, the outer face or edge of the latter being concaved, as shown, to fit the convex surface of the check-rein hook.

Meriden, in the county of New Haven and A slot, 1), is provided at the forward end of the casing A, in which slot travels a pin, G, the latter being secured to the stem 1), and

having'itsnpper'end headed and shaped to form a thumb-piece, e, in operating the snap-hook. A coiled spring, H, is located within the rear end of the casing A, bearing at one end against the closed end of the latter and at the other end against the inner end of the stem or shank D, which is thereby retained in its forward adjusted position by the action of the spring.

The operation of my invention will be read il y understood from the foregoing description, taken. in connection with the annexed draw The check rein or-line I is doubled through the loop 13 on the end of barrel or casing A in attaching the snap to the said rein. To connect with the cheek-hook J, the thumbpiece e is operated to press the sliding stem or shank D backward through or into the easing A, the pin G traveling in the slot 1), and the spring H being compressed. By the pe culiar concaved front edge of the cushion F a space is left between the latter and the inner face of the front bar of frame 0 when the parts are in their normal positions. Thus when the stem has been operated, as described. the block or piece E works backward through the frame 0, the space between the front edge of the cushion and the front cross-bar of the frame being increased, so as to readily allow the insertion of the check-hook J through the same. As soon as the snap-hook has reached a point on the check-hook J which will be on a common line with the check-rein, pressure on the thumb-piece e is relieved, causing the stem D, with the block E and cushion F, to work forward in the frame 0, the said cushion fitting around the outer convex face of the be sufficiently strong to Withstand the strain which comes upon it.

The'cushion F may be of rubber or leather, as may be deemed desirable, and prevents the scratching or marring of finely-finished check-hooks, and also avoids the annoyance caused by the incessant rattling of two metal parts upon each other. Furthermore, the cushion will more firmly bind itself to-the check-hook than would be the case were a metal block employed.

The snap-hook is. also very compact, the spring being locked within the casing or'barrel A while in course of manufacture, so that it is impossible for it to be loosened or disconnected; also, by reason of the peculiar fitting of the block E, with its cushion, within the opening of the frame 0, the parts are guided in their movements, and held from lateral or longitudinal displacement. The simplicity of construction enables me to manufacture the article at a very low price, there being no riveting of the parts, and very little machine labor.

I have shown my invention as applied to the check-rein of harness for the purpose of connecting it to the check-hook, and preventing the rein from being. disengaged by the motion of the horses head while in use. This is the particular design of the present invention; but I do not wish to be limited to this or any other use which I may see fit to make of the improvement herein shown and deplied with ease and facility to the various parts of harness in place of the old loops, where it will prove ofutility for the purposes intended.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The herein-described snap-hook, comprising the hollow casing or body, a loop at one end, and an open frame at the other-end thereof, and a sliding stem working in the casing, and carrying a block working within and guided by the frame, and cushioned at the front end, as set forth.

2. In a snap-hook, the casing or body A and a frame, 0, projecting therefrom, in combination with the sliding stem and a block or enlargement provided on the end of the stem, the said frame 0 entirely inclosing the stem and its block, the latter working against the side bars of the frame and serving to hold the check-rein between it and the front ba thereof, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK H. CHAPMAN. 

